Closure means for containers



Feb. 23, 1954 G. STRICKLAND 2,670,097

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS Filed July 2, 1951 we IL m 24 2 IN ENTOQ 5y A TTOZNE) Patented Feb. 23, 1954 "CLOSURE MEANS FOR OONTAIN'ERS cream Strickland, St. Catherines, *Dntario, Canada, .assiznor to American Flange & Manufacturing .Go...Inc., New York, N, Y., a corporation Application July-'2, 1951, Seria'l'Nb. 234, 747

, .1 1 This invention relates towimprovementsin :a closure means for containers, as described in the present specificationand illustrated'in the accompanying drawings that dorm a :part of the, same.

The invention consists essentially-inthe novel features :of construction as pointed out broadly and'specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail :of an acceptable form. of theinvention. The objects of the invention are to devise a closure means which maybe readily and easily removed from the container which could be in the .form of a metal 'drum,. a -can, a jar, a bottle, or 'similar' articles; to-contrive a closure :means for :containers which will .be easy to manufacture and consequently lessen the cost of production; tofurnish a closure and :cover which will be sturdy and form-a strong unit and with which no :special toolxisheeded forsits removal; to: make a-closure means for containers forming :a perfect seaL: and which willhe locked-to the container; and generally to, providers. closurexand cover for containers of neat and -.attractive:appearance and which -wi1l-be eflicient in .use.

:In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation showing'sa container with the closure and cover in position thereon.

Figure 2511513111 enlarged plan viewof Figure 1.

Figure Bis-an enlarged fragmentary side view,

showingthe closure and cover iii-position on top of the container. 7

Fig. 3a is an enlarged verticalzsectionof the look-bracket forthecover. 1

.Figure l is an enlarged plan *view, showing-the closurein position on :thecontainer with the-outer locking cover removed.

Figure 4c is .an enlarged fragmentary viewof the gasketing of the closure with :respecttothe container-opening.

Figure 5 is .an enlarged fragmentary side sectional 'view through the closure and topqaortion of, the :container as taken on the line 5-4 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side sectional view through the top portionv of the container, with'the closure and cover removed'therefrom.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

.Referring to the drawings, the closure means, as indicated by the numeral 1.0, consists .of.a:olosure 1-! having an :outer cover l2.sealing theisame in position on the top of acontainer l3.

. The container 1 3 in thisiinstance .is shown in 5 Claims. (01.220-40) theiorm :of a can, the'top M of which an opening 15 with a :pluralitytof formations therevaround to coincide with the formation of the closure ll vso as to efiect a sealin when both are brought into engagement with one another. 1

The opening 1 5 :is centrally locatedand has :its annular edge extending downward and inward at an angle from the top of the container for a :suitable distance, then continuing vertically downwarda :short distance and then inwardly horizontally to .form an :annularshelf or seat l-B for fa gasket, this seat extending towards the center of the opening.

v The remaining .portions for formations of the opening to extending downward :from the seat 1'6, consist era plurality :of flange portions H extending downwardly and inwardly at ian angle, then vertically for a suitable distance, andth'e lower edges thereof are turnedoutwardly-at right angles to the latter. Slots ifi aresformed between each of the .flange portions 1 l, and the lower edge 18 of eaohiportionis in the form of :a cam, in that the edge tapers downward in a horizontally inclined plane from :one of the slots 1-9 for a suitable distance, and then extends horizontally-and terminates in a projection 20 adjacent the next slot. Each of the loweredges l8extends-insa similar manner to the foregoing between'each of the slots.

The opening 15in the top of thecontainer I53 is illustrated, in this instance, as being formed di rectly in thetcontainer stock, but it will'belrealized that, if necessary,a flange could he attachedto the top of the-containerand have'thisopening I 5 formed therein. I

The closure. I l is adapted to engage .in the onening l5 in the topof the container for the'purposetof closing or sealing the same. The closure consists of a stoppleportion 21 having tightening means welded or otherwise secured to the bottom thereof. The tightening means 22 consists of a body portion-23 which is .in the form-0f a caphaving a rlat top-surfaceand-an'annular skirtzextending downward therefrom. A plurality of :lugs 24 are integral with-thebody portion 2-3 and extend downward at right angles from the lower edged the annular skirt thereof.

The stopple portion 21 has a flat bottom -portion 25 which is adjacent the flat upper portion or surface of the body portion 23 :of the tightening means 22, and an annular and arcuately shapedside wall 2-6 extends upward and outward from this bottom portion 25.

An annular lip 21 extends :around the :upper edge oi the side wall ZS-and has a -:plurality of slots 28 therein. The lip 2! is preferably formed by curling the material of the side wall 25 outwardly to form a rolled edge. The annular seat I6 formed in the opening I5 of the container iii has a gasket 29 positioned thereto. When the closure II is placed in the opening I5 in the top of the container, the closure is turned so that the lugs 24 on the tightening means thereof extend through the slots I9 in the opening I5, and the closure is then turned and the lugs 24 engage the lower edges or cams I8 of the flange portions I'I, thus tightening down the closure with respect to the opening l5 and securing the same thereto.

The slots 28 in the annular lip 21 of the closure are adapted to be engaged by any suitable means for turning the closure. The lower edges III of the flange portions I? extend slightly downward along a portion thereof, and then these edges extend horizontally until they meet the projection 28 on each of these flange portions H, which serve as a stop for the lugs 24 when the closure I I has been turned to become secured in the opening I5.

When the closure I I is substantially secured in the opening I5, the annular and arcuately shaped side wall 28 of the stopple portion 2! engages the gasket 29 on the seat I6, thereby substantially sealing the opening.

After the closure II is in place on the container I3, the outer cover 12 is applied over the top of the closure and is clinched over the rolled edge or annular lip 21 to substantially grip the same. A tongue 38 is integral with the outer cover I2 and extends outward from one side of the cover at the bottom thereof. A look bracket 3! is fixedly secured to the top I4 of the container I3 towards the periphery thereof, and the end of the tongue 30 is substantially engaged in a slot 32 therein, thus locking the outer cover I: in position with respect to the container.

In removing the outer cover I 2, prior to removing the closure from the container, the tongue 31! is broken so that it may be gripped and torn across the central portion of the outer cover,

thereby freeing the same from the closure. This outer cover I2 provides a finished surface with the closure as well as a locking means therefor, and may be suitably lithographed if desired.

It is of course understood that modifications and ramifications may be made without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as hereinabove described and illustrated.

What I claim is:

1. In a closure means for containers, a container having an opening in the top thereof formed of a plurality of annular formations extending downward and inward from the top thereof, a gasket suitably seated with respect to said annular formations, cams being formed on thelowermost of said annular formations, a closure'ccmprising a stopple portion and tightening means, said stcpple portion having a flat bottom wall and an arcuately shaped annular wall extending upward therefrom the top edge of which is provided with a plurality of slots extending therethrough, said tightening means comprising a flat wall fixedly secured to the flat bottom wall of said stopple portion and an annular skirt extending downward from said top wall of said tightening means, a plurality of lugs extending downward from the lower edge of said annular skirt of said tightening means, said closure being positioned in the annular formations forming the hole in the top of said container for closing: the same and the arcuately shaped annu- Imwall of said stopple portion being seated on said gasket and being tightened down thereagainst as said lugs on said tightening means thereof engage with said cams in said container when turned to a tight position.

2. In a closure means for containers, a container having an opening in the top thereof formed of a plurality of annular formations extending downward and inward from the top thereof, a gasket suitably seated with respect to said annular formations, cams being formed on the lowermost of said annular formations, a closure comprising a stopple portion and tightening means secured on the bottom thereof, said stopple portion having a flat bottom wall and an arcuately shaped annular side wall extending upward and outward therefrom, the top edge of the side wall being rolled, forming a lip portion, said rolled edge having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, said tightening means comprising a flat wall fixed- 1y secured to the hat bottom wall of said stopple portion and an annular skirt extending downward from said top wall of said tightening means, a plurality of lugs extending downward from the lower edges of said annular skirt of said tightening means, said closure being positioned in the annular formations forming the hole in the top of said container for closing the same and the arcuately shaped annular Wall of said stopple portion being seated on said gasket and being tightened down thereagainst as said lugs on said tightening means thereof engage with said cams in said container when turned to a tight position, an outer cover adapted to be positioned over said closure and clinched over said rolled edge thereof, a tongue integral with said outer cover and extending outward from one side thereof, a lock bracket fixedly secured in the top of said container towards the periphery thereof and adapted to have the end of said tongue substantially engaged therewith, thus locking said outer cover in position with respect to said container, and said tongue facilitating the removal of said outer cover from said closure by rendering the same easy to break so that it may be drawn across the central portion of said outer cover thus separating said outer cover into sections for removal from said closure.

3. In closure constructions for containers, a container wall formed with an opening therein, said opening being bordered by a downwardly extending annular formation, said annular formation terminating at its inner end in cam-like formations and a closure for closing said opening, said closure comprising a pair of opposed cuplike elements, said cup-like elements being assembled with the outer surfaces of their bottoms secured together in face-to-face relationship, the upper one of said cup-like elements being seated within said annular formation to close said opening, a gasket received between the outer wall of said one cup-like element and said annular formation and engaged by each to provide a leak-proof joint, the lower of said cup-like elements having a portion extending through said opening, said ex tending portion providin cam engaging portions formed to engage said cams at the inner end of said annular formation, said cam engaging portions engaging said cams and said cams being inclined whereby on the turning of said closure with said cam engaging portions and said cams in engagement, said outer cup-like element will be drawn into formation with said gasket to provide a tight closure. p

g 4. In closurev constructions for containers, a

container wall having an opening therein, said opening being formed with a downwardly extending annular formation bordering the same, a gasket seat formed in said annular formation, cams formed on said annular formation at the lower end thereof, and a closure for closing said opening, said closure comprising a pair of opposed cup-like elements, said cup-like elements having the outer surfaces of their bottoms secured together in face-to-face relationship, the upper oneof said cup-like elements being seated within said annular formation to close saidopening, a gasket carried by said gasket seat on said annular formation and engaging the outer wall of said upper cup-like element, the lower of said cup-like elements having a portion extending through said opening and terminating in outwardly extending cam-engaging portions, said outwardly extending cam engaging portions engaging said cams and said cams, on the turning of said closure, serving to draw said outer cup-like element down into said formation against said gasket to provide a tight closure.

5. A closure plug for containers which comprises, a pair of cup-shaped elements comprising a closing element and a securing element, said elements being assembled and secured together in opposed relation with the outer bottom surfaces thereof in face-to-face engagement, said closing element being formed as a convexly extending dome extending away from the bottom surface thereof and terminating in a reinforcing edge, said reinforcing edge being provided with wrench engaging formations, said securing element having a side wall extending away from the bottom surface thereof and said side wall terminating in an outwardly extending edge, said outwardly extending edge being formed as spaced cam formations.

GEORGE STRICKLAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,351 Rieke Oct. 23, 1934 208,292 Carroll Sept. 24, 1878 548,301 Dunn Oct. 22, 1895 1,669,875 Nixon Jan. 19, 1926 1,654,066 Zarobsky Dec. 27, 1927 1,929,412 Dillhofer Oct. 10, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 768,832 France Mar. 28, 1934 

